3-Day Bible Reading Plan: “Why Didn’t God Answer My Prayers?”
Today, we are diving into a deeply personal question for many of us. In fact, this question was the number one question in our honest questions series as voted for by all of you in our Sonrise community. It is one that touches at the heart of what the Christian faith is all about because the question has two points of emphasis. First—why? What is God’s reasoning behind what He is doing? I know that He claims to be loving and I know that we believe that He is also all powerful, so He has to have a reason for not answering prayer. The second emphasis of the question is my prayer. This isn’t just that He isn’t answering the prayers of some person suffering out there, but specifically He is not answering my prayers. He might be even answering the prayers of others, but my prayers seem to be falling on deaf ears. - Pastor Daniel Johnson, 6/16/24
Day 1
Featured Verse: John 14:13 - “Whatever You Ask in My Name, This I Will Do”
Cross References:
John 14:21 - “I Will Manifest Myself to Him”
Mark 11:24 - “Believe That You Have Received It, and It Will Be Yours”
1 John 5:14-15 - “If We Ask Anything In Accordance with His Will, He Hears Us”
Reflection:
Asking “in Jesus’ name” means more than the closing at the end of a prayer. What does it truly mean to ask in Christ’s name?
How do answered prayers “manifest” Christ to us?
What is God’s will for the life of a strong Christian? What might we pray for ourselves if we know whatever we ask according to His will is heard?
“The conditions of prayer are well ordered and clear—abiding in Christ; in His name. One of the first necessities, if we are to grasp the infinite possibilities of prayer, is to get rid of prayerless praying. It is often beautiful in words and in execution; it has the drapery of prayer in rich and costly form, but it lacks the soul of praying.” - E.M. Bounds
Day 2
Featured Verse: John 15:16 - “That Your Fruit Should Abide”
Cross References:
John 15:5 - “Apart from Me You Can Do Nothing”
James 2:17 - “Faith By Itself, if it Does Not Have Works, is Dead”
Matthew 7:20 - “You Will Recognize Them By Their Fruits”
Reflection:
One of the purposes for answered prayer is that we bear fruit, and that our fruit should abide. What does this mean?
Christ said without Him we can do nothing, that the branches cannot produce much fruit apart from the Vine. How does that idea parallel with James 2:17 that states faith without works is dead?
Answers from Heaven is one of the sure hallmarks of a true Christian. How might you cater your prayers to bring glory to Jesus rather than to yourself?
“Fruit-bearing involves cross-bearing. There are not two Christs—an easygoing one for easygoing Christians, and a suffering, toiling one for exceptional believers. There is only one Christ. Are you willing to abide in Him, and thus to bear much fruit?” - Hudson Taylor
Day 3
Featured Verse: John 16:23-24 - “Ask and You Will Receive, That Your Joy May Be Full”
Cross References:
Psalm 16:11 - “In Your Presence There is Fullness of Joy”
Nehemiah 8:10 - “The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength”
2 John 1:12 - “I Hope to Come and Talk to You Face to Face, That Our Joy May Be Complete”
Reflection:
According to our cross-reference Scriptures, there is a theme to the “fullness of joy.” What is it?
How do we find strength in our weakness through our joy of Christ?
Scripture says we have not because we ask not (James 4:2). If the sky truly is the limit within the bounds of the will of God, what amazing things could you ask of Him so that you might receive?
“Whether we like it or not, asking is the rule of the Kingdom. If you may have everything by asking in His Name, and nothing without asking, I beg you to see how absolutely vital prayer is.” - Charles Spurgeon